Bradenton Beach: No budget issues

By Paul Roat

Bradenton Beach city commissioners tentatively approved a $2,628,996
spending plan for next year in a record-setting 14
minutes. Final ratification of the budget and tax rate for fiscal year
2007-08, which takes effect Oct. 1, will be held after public hearings
Sept. 19.

Only one person spoke during
last week’s
meeting. Former Mayor Connie Drescher questioned the number of city vehicles
that have appeared of late.

“I know
we’re getting them for
free,” she said, “but I wonder why there are so many vehicles that
employees take home.”

Drescher also
said that city residents are happy with their city garbage and recycling employees,
despite the increased fees that are being proposed, adding that “no one
is here but me, so everyone must be satisfied with the budget.”

The
proposed budget is slightly down from the current $2,694,383 budget for the city.

However,
based on a Florida Legislature-mandated reduction in property taxes earlier this
year, property owners in the city will see a reduction in their city tax rate
from the current 2.4878 mills to 2.2579. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed
value of a home, less any exemptions.

City
revenue comes from a variety of sources, including property taxes, but also electric,
telephone, water, gas and franchise fees, plus, for Bradenton Beach, some grant
revenue to deal with capital improvements.

It
was the capital improvements program that took the biggest hit in the city’s
leaner budget for next year. The current year’s capital improvement project
budget was more than $586,500; next year it is just more than $123,100. However,
much of the work planned for the current year has been completed.

“We’ve
pretty much resurfaced all the streets in the city,” Mayor John Chappie
said. He added that work on the city pier comes from a different funding category,
as well as the work on streetscape projects on the north side of the city - compliments
of Florida Department of Transportation. The Coquina Beach Trail - also
a grant - and Coquina Beach improvements, both courtesy of Manatee County,
had been accomplished this year.

Still to
come are stormwater improvements, which is yet another funding category, not
a part of property tax levies.

Highlights
of the city budget for next year include an administrative budget of $349,221,
up from the current $340,845; project-program management at $122,102, down from
$136,469; and city commission at $232,804, up from $230,992.

The city commission budget
reflects the payment of community redevelopment grant funds, which is a special
city funding category.

Also within the budget is the police
department’s
$866,460 for next year, up from the current $845,527; emergency management’s
spending plan next year at $28,850, up from the current $26,230; and the planning
department’s $339,496, up from the current $303,253.

Planning
and development charges in the city are historically self-supporting through
permit fees and other charges for development.

Parks department funds will
be flat-lined next year. Current funding of $3,500 was deemed unnecessary for
the upcoming year.

The city pier, which is a separate
accounting entity within Bradenton Beach, is expected to cost the city $75,500
next year, up from the current $73,405. However, revenue to be generated from
the pier lessee is projected at $96,000.

For streets and
roads, the 2007-08 estimated spending is at $194,450, down from the current $205,921.
Stormwater expenses for next year are pegged at $150,500, up from the current
$128,687, but this again is balanced by a separate fee charged residents.

Facilities
maintenance costs for next year are budgeted at $148,800, down from the current
$163,593; and sanitation is budgeted for $434,460, up from the current $321,200.
Again, sanitation is separate from the property tax bill for residents and the
increase reflects an expected 30 percent hike in garbage bills to come later
this year, based on previous city commission action.

Community redevelopment
agency capital projects have been slashed to zero in the upcoming year, although
2006-07 saw $261,000 budgeted.

Commission votes on the elements
of the budget were not unanimous. Commissioner Bill Shearon voted against all
the elements of the budget and tax rate.

The Sept. 19
meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

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